Quote:
Originally Posted by Sephiroth
The GFA has been ascribed varying attributes in this thread. The closest to reflecting reality is yours, I would say.
But then there is Brexit. The EU pretends to want to protect the GFA because, ultimately, of the risk of terrorism. It seems to me that the UK guvmin has bought that; either they know something about terrorism that the EU doesn’t, or it’s just gullible. Ireland is only interested in the economical aspect. NThe EU is interested in carving Ulster away from the UK.
In such circumstances, we should not fall for the trick that keeps us uncompetitive, shackled to the EU and with the Irish smugly waving to fingers and a shelali at us.
I am happy for an open border with Ireland as you describe because, agai, it would scare the shits out of the legalistic EU about good going into Ireland. A useful starting point that could change later.
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Do you feel that there's much of an appetite for reunification in Ireland? Sure, Sinn Fein wants it but noone else does. Fine Gael is probably the most UK friendly party in Ireland and they are currently the ruling party in the Oireachtas. Ireland revised their claim to the North in Nineteenth Amendment referendum with a 94% 'yes' vote.
Northern Ireland is to be honest a political and economic basket case. 25% is Northern Irelands income is subsidies from Westminster to the tune of €11bn a year. Ireland doesn't want it on its' books, they are doing well but not that well. To be honest, reunification from an economic point of view would be better for the UK!
Here are nice articles found while reading up for my reply;
Study on the costs of reunification -
https://www.irishtimes.com/business/...y-15-1.3629748
How reunification could happen -
https://www.instituteforgovernment.o...-reunification
Leo Varadkar opposed to reunification referendum -
https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/n...-35932315.html
Opinion piece on why reunification will not happen -
https://reaction.life/brexit-no-silv...reunification/